Angelini Osteria

10/16/09

Expect Good not Great

by linart at Citysearch

First time there, but eaten at some great Italian restaurants, and it was good not great. Probably too popular, serve same dishes, and too many people. Suspect it was better 6 or 7 years ago. A restaurant is better at first when it experiments and is surprising. The dishes I ordered were recommended but didn't taste that extraordinary - e.g.. the lasagna verde, seemed slippery, didn't like ragu in it and the grilled lamb chops, meat excellent, didn't have enough flavor in sauce. What was surprising to me was the amount of young people who could afford the prices even though we are supposedly in a recession.

• Pros: good service and food, not pretentious
• Cons: noisy, crowded, expensive

06/07/09

There are few places in the world better than Angelini's

by Whatsup at Citysearch

First of all, this is an Osteria - it's not the Rex and it isn't Melisse. Second, the food is consistently marvelous. In my years of going to Angelini's, only once have had a meal that was not excellent. For example, my last meal started with a so-so sushi appetizer (how excited can one get about raw fish?), then launched into a series of delicious courses: foie gras with fava beans and spatzle; squid ink gnocchi with lobster and cherry tomatoes, filet mignon with a parmesean cream sauce and kale; sepia with a little frisee and porcini; pizza with gorgonzola dolce and porcini.

Anyone can have a bad experience anywhere. Call ahead - tell them you want the chef to choose some number of courses to try and let them cook. Tell them directly if you are not crazy about something; my guess, you will have at least two courses that will be best in class.

• Pros: Consistently as good as food gets
• Cons: Location and environment

04/16/09

Best Italian in LA

by LAQueen at Citysearch

Chef Angelini is the best in LA. I have been to Angelini many times and every time is fabulous. I would recommend this place to everyone, make a reservation all days of the week are busy.

• Pros: Great Service and Amazing Food
• Cons: none

01/07/09

A shadow of its former self

by jamezc at Citysearch

I discovered Angelini's a few months after it opened in late 2001 - back in the day when you could walk in without reservations - to enjoy one of the best Italian meals that I have ever had here or in Italy. Exquisite unique primi, Mediterranean squid that was so soft that you could cut it with a fork alone, fabulous desserts, brillant service, a visit from the Chef to hear our raves about the food and service, and very good and fair wine list. Then, by 2006, the restaurant had become much more popular, the menu had become noticeably more standardized, and the service was markedly diminished, but the food was still great, there were Italian beers, and a still a very good and fair wine list. So, I was still a fan. But, in my last 2 visits in the last 2 years, the food has become cookie-cutter and even though more standardized the food is actually sliding in quality while service, with the exception of a waiter who works the back of the house (this stupid review tells me that his name is inappropriate), is unacceptable, and the interior is too crowded - not in a cozy way. Courses are served on top of each other, the food is over salted, the presentation is sloppy, and there is not enough room on the tables to share dishes. Further, the dessert menu is absolutely uninspired and has not noticeably changed in at least 3 years. This is a business - pure and simple. This is a radical departure from 2001, but with throngs of people willing to accept this standardized, poorly prepared food and poor service, there is no need for Angelini to return to its initial glory. Angelini, by its actions, pays more attention to getting people in and out than to providing a relaxing trattoria atmosphere with uncompromising food and service. It breaks my heart to say, but Sr. Angelini, thank you so much for the exquisite meals and dining experiences that I had through 2006; however, it is time to say "Ciao" and to find an Italian restaurant rather than a high-end Olive Garden.

• Pros: None any longer.
• Cons: Cookie-cutter menu, no attention to seasoning,

10/03/08

My favorite Italian restaurant outside Italy

by drusillamay at Citysearch

I had the pleasure of being introduced to Gino on my first visit; the friendly, hands-on approach to food and service has never waned in the years since. I've gone here consecutively for my past few birthdays - indicating that this isn't an inexpensive osteria, but for a special occasion it's worth every dime.

The dining room is snug to begin with - do make a reservation - and the din can get borderline unbearable when at full capacity but if you're prepared for that you'll have no room to complain otherwise. The waiters are attentive, despite sometimes needing to thread through the tables.

I studied abroad in Italy for a semester, and my heritage is proudly Italian, and I consider myself a dilettante chef. That all said, the food is divine! The standard menu has some gems (the prosciutto-arugula pizza is incredible; the lasagna bolognese, topped with flash-fried spinach leaves, left my lasagna-loving dad and sis groaning with glee) but the specials are spectacular. If you're lucky enough to be there when "stinco" is the day's meat special, do try it. Gino or your waiter will carve it tableside, and it will melt in your mouth guaranteed!

(note: not actually guaranteed)

• Pros: Incredibly authentic Italian food, friendly wait staff
• Cons: Crowded dining room can work up to a loud din when to capacity

10/01/08

Just go.

by cloondog at Citysearch

Just, WOW! Such good food. And nice people. You know, nice in a nutty Italian kind of way. But nice.

09/08/08

fresh and simple perfectly executed

by roxg at Citysearch

My friend and I went last weekend and it seems as though either the majority of restaurants in LA are becoming more and more all flourish and no taste or Angelini just keeps on getting better. The sardine and panzanella salad was unexpected but the highlight of the dinner. The homemade pasta's were perfectly cooked and the branzino was the most fresh and moist I have probably ever had. Don't skip dessert, the mascarpone cup is so good its ridiculous. I would recommend going for a fun night out but not a romantic dinner as it is brightly lit and a tad noisy.

• Pros: fresh taste, fun atmosphere
• Cons: hard to get a table on weekends

05/25/08

Disappointing and over-rated!

by SangriaLover at Citysearch

The appetizers and salads were delicious, but the rest of the meal was wholly disappointing. The caprese had very fresh and flavorful mozzarella, but that is the last positive thing I can say. I had the rib eye and it was way too fatty, and lacked flavor. My husband had the T-bone and found it just to be mediocre. Sadly, this restaurant is just plain and a bit boring. We were very disappointed as we had heard the food was so delicious.

• Pros: good service -- but not so good that it makes up for the blah food
• Cons: boring, mediocre food

05/15/08

Good, Not great, A tad overrated

by StephKudus at Citysearch

Decided to try this place out since it is so highly acclaimed. Service is great, tables were way too close together, I could hear the couple's conversation next to me! Appetizers were OVERSIZED. Bread basket had an array of breads. I had the Oxtail, it was good but not great, could have been more tender. My Sister had something else which I don't remember, I reckon it was not that good. I have definitely had better italian food at many other places, I was rather disappointed. Rather extensive menu though!

• Pros: Decent, OVERSIZED portions
• Cons: tables were too close, loud loud loud

03/19/08

Good food. Very popular. Very crowded.

by chudjr at Citysearch

The food is excellent, but most of the tables for two are so narrow and almost touching the other table that you really have no privacy at all. The place is jammed with people and is loud. This is not the place to go if you want a quiet atmosphere. I had the Dover sole. It was an excellent piece of fish, but I wish it was seasoned a bit more. The scallop appertizer was very good. The portions are not gigantic. We went to Grace across the street and split an entree and dessert. It was nice and peaceful at Grace compared to Angelini Osteria.

• Pros: Good food.
• Cons: Loud and somewhat claustrophobic.